Editing Ko Takeuchi

{{person infobox 
|image=[[File:Ko Takeuchi.jpg|250px]]<br>Ko Takeuchi in 2006
}}
'''Ko Takeuchi''' (竹内 高 ''Takeuchi Kō'', born November 28, 1970) is a Japanese video game designer working for [[Nintendo]]. He specializes in video games and music.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100915163215/http://www.mata-web.com/anime-manga/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=225&catid=70&Itemid=70 Ko Takeuchi's involvement in the Japan Expo 2008 at Mata-web (French)]</ref> Takeuchi is one of the key developers of the [[WarioWare (series)|''WarioWare'' series]]. Among his most important work in terms of Nintendo games is the character design of the ''WarioWare'' and ''[[rhythmheaven:Rhythm Heaven (series)|Rhythm Heaven]]'' series. The first Nintendo games Ko Takeuchi was involved with were ''Tottoko [[wikipedia:Hamtaro|Hamtaro]]: Tomodachi Daisaku Ikusa Dechu'' and ''[[Wario Land 4]]''. In 2001, Takeuchi founded his own design studio Kokosac along with his wife, Sachiko Imai, a visual artist herself.

==Life and work==
Ko Takeuchi was born on November 28, 1970 in Kōchi in the Kōchi Prefecture of [[Japan]].<ref>[https://archive.is/zY15n Ko Takeuchi's profile at Kokosac.com (Japanese)]</ref> Early in his life, he became interested in video games, such as the [[Game & Watch]] handhelds and the [[Family Computer|Famicom]] console. Takeuchi graduated from the Horikoshi High School in [[Tokyo]], later he traveled to the [[United States of America]] and studied at the Cartooning Faculty of the School of Visual Arts in [[New York City]].<ref name="japan_expo_interview">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100915163215/http://www.mata-web.com/anime-manga/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=225&catid=70&Itemid=70 Interview with Ko Takeuchi at Mata-web (French)]</ref>

After his return to Japan, he applied to different companies related to visual arts, including at least one game company, the now-defunct developer [[wikipedia:Superwarp|Warp]]. He joined said company and entered the video game industry this way.<ref name="gpara_interview">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202142300/http://www.gpara.com/contents/creator/bn_206.htm Interview with Ko Takeuchi at Gpara.com (Japanese)]</ref> During his time at Warp, Takeuchi worked on [[wikipedia:Dreamcast|Dreamcast]] games, including ''[[wikipedia:D2 (video game)|D2]]'', of which he was one of the designers.<ref name="japan_expo_interview"/> Afterwards, he joined Nintendo in 2000. The first Nintendo game he was involved with is ''Tottoko [[wikipedia:Hamtaro|Hamtaro]]: Tomodachi Daisaku Ikusa Dechu'', released in the same year. Takeuchi took the role of assistant director. The next game he worked on is ''[[Wario Land 4]]'', for which he was responsible for the background graphics.<ref name="gpara_interview"/> In the year of the game's release, 2001, Ko Takeuchi and his wife Sachiko Imai founded a design studio, Kokosac, located in [[wikipedia:Kyoto, Japan|Kyoto, Japan]].<ref name="japan_expo_interview"/>

[[File:Group WWMM.jpg|210px|thumb|The original cast of ''WarioWare'', designed by Ko Takeuchi]]
Takeuchi is responsible for the character design in all games of the ''WarioWare'' series, starting with ''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' released in 2003, and is a key designer of the franchise in general. He designed characters for the ''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' series such as [[Jimmy T]], [[Mona]], [[9-Volt]], and [[Ashley]].<ref>[[List of WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! staff|Staff Credits of ''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!'']] and subsequent ''WarioWare'' games</ref> The title character [[Wario]] was also given a new appearance by Takeuchi for the series, wearing a biker outfit. During the development of ''WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!'', Ko Takeuchi also sometimes worked with [[Hiroji Kiyotake]], the original designer of Wario.<ref name="gpara_interview"/> He created the artwork for the [[Nintendo Kids Space#Ashley no Halloween Night|Ashley no Halloween Night]] and [[Nintendo Kids Space#Barbara & Ashley|Barbara & Ashley]] online comics. Additionally, he voices [[Joe]] in the Japanese version of the ''WarioWare'' series starting with ''[[WarioWare Gold]]''.

His characters, be it in video games or other media, are usually based on real people, including his friends, colleagues, and people he met on the street.<ref name="japan_expo_interview"/> When Ko Takeuchi sees a fascinating person who might be the inspiration for a new character, he draws them in his small sketchbook.<ref name="gpara_interview"/> Takeuchi's style, which is commonly seen as "cute", is influenced by artists such as [[wikipedia:Akira Toriyama|Akira Toriyama]] and [[Yoichi Kotabe]].<ref name="japan_expo_interview"/>

During his studies, Ko Takeuchi had to put aside his passion for playing video games because he was so busy. Today, he still plays video games as time permits. Takeuchi has specifically mentioned his enthusiasm for the [[wikibound:EarthBound (series)|''Mother'' series]], referring to the game ''[[wikibound:EarthBound Beginnings|Mother]]'' as a masterpiece and stating that he played through ''[[wikibound:EarthBound|Mother 2]]'' (''EarthBound'') three times.<ref name="gpara_interview"/><ref name="japan_expo_interview"/>

==Games credited==
*''[[Wario Land 4]]'' - Designer
*''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]'' - Character Design, Game Design, Graphic Design 
*''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!]]'' - Art Director, Graphic Design, Voice
*''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]'' - Game Design, Design, Design Director, Character Design, Character Voice
*''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'' - Game Design, Design, Character Design
*''[[WarioWare: Smooth Moves]]'' - Game Design, Character Design
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' - Supervisor (Original Games)
*''[[WarioWare: Snapped!]]'' - Character Design
*''[[WarioWare: D.I.Y.]]'' - Character Design
*''[[Game & Wario]]'' - Character Design
*''[[Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'' - Supervisor (Original Games) (drew the alternate poses of the ''WarioWare'' and ''Rhythm Heaven'' [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophies]]<ref>[[Media:Ko takeuchi twitter qa.png|Ko Takeuchi's answer to a question on Twitter]]</ref>)
*''[[Rhythm Heaven Megamix]]'' - Art Director, Voice Talent
*''[[Nintendo Badge Arcade]]'' - Badge Design
*''[[WarioWare Gold]]'' - Character Designer, Character Voice ([[Joe]], Japanese dub)
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' - Original Game Supervisor
*''[[WarioWare: Get It Together!]]'' - Character Designer
*''[[WarioWare: Move It!]]'' - Character Designer, Character Voice (Joe, Japanese dub)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
ND WWIMPG Takeuchi Present Drawing 1.png|[[Jimmy T]] as drawn by Ko Takeuchi, used for one of the present of a lottery activity initiated by ''Nintendo DREAM''
ND WWIMPG Takeuchi Present Drawing 2.png|[[Mona]] as drawn by Ko Takeuchi, used for one of the present of a lottery activity initiated by ''Nintendo DREAM''
ND WWIMPG Takeuchi Present Drawing 3.png|[[9-Volt]] as drawn by Ko Takeuchi, used for one of the present of a lottery activity initiated by ''Nintendo DREAM''
WWTouched Signed Edition Takeuchi Signature.jpg|A signature of Ko Takeuchi with a drawing of [[Kat & Ana|Kat]], from a signed copy of ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]''
ND WWTouched 2005 Nengajo.jpg|2005 ''nengajō'' for ''Nintendo DREAM'' based on ''WarioWare: Touched!'' from the developers of the game
Nindori Exposition Entrance Takeuchi Orbulon Doodle.jpg|A doodle of [[Orbulon]] by Ko Takeuchi, from the whiteboard at the entrance of Nindori Exposition
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*When Ko Takeuchi tested ''[[WarioWare: Snapped!]]'' during its development, he got angry at the slideshow at the end depicting himself and yelled "What the?! You darn thing!" and "No one said anything about this!"<ref>[https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/dsi/4/2 Iwata Asks: Nintendo DSi, Volume 5 - ''WarioWare: Snapped!'' (page 3) at NintendoDS.com]</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://kosan.myportfolio.com/ MyPortfolio account]
*[https://x.com/kosan_takeuchi X account]
*[https://www.instagram.com/kosan_takeuchi Instagram account]
*[http://kokosac.tumblr.com/ Tumblr account (inactive)]

{{People}}
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Game designers]]
[[Category:Nintendo]]
[[it:Ko Takeuchi]]